Spotting Bad Dental Habits Early

Posted on 10/30/2016 by Fariba Mutschler

Children are often excited to start brushing and flossing at a young age, but by the time they start school, this excitement may fade. It is important that parents keep up with their child's dental habits and teach their children to make a healthy mouth a top priority.

There are a few things parents can do, like being a good example by keeping their own mouth healthy, that can help kids develop positive habits at an early age. Parents can also be on the lookout for bad habits to keep them from turning into problems.

Some Bad Dental Habits to Be On the Lookout For

By the time your child starts school, you should make sure that he or she had stopped sucking their thumb. This can cause a wide variety of issues, from misaligned teeth to poor oral development. This habit should be stopped as early as possible, as the longer it goes on, the more damage it can cause.

Chewing on things is another habit that you should try and break your child of as early as you can. It could be chewing on cups, fingernails, or even pens and pencils; chewing on anything that is not meant to be chewed on can cause damage to the teeth.

Brushing long enough or fewer times each day as your child should is another habit parents need to be checking on. Your child should be brushing for at least two minutes, minus the spitting time, and should be flossing at least one time each day. If you notice he or she isn't doing these each day, you need to put a stop to these habits before they cause bigger problems.

The earlier you are able to stop a problem with your child's dental habits, the less likely he or she is to develop bigger issues down the line.